Trump showed off a Qatari-funded 747-8i that could serve as a second Air Force One. The plane's arrival offers Boeing a positive contrast as the delayed Air Force One program faces more losses.
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Donald Trump showed off a new presidential jet on Monday, a Boeing 747-8i that Qatar funded and painted in the colors of the U.S. flag. The plane landed at Palm Beach International Airport while the president-elect was at Mar-a-Lago. Trump called the gift "very generous" and said he would use it for international travel.
The jet is a finished version of the same airframe Boeing is building for the U.S. Air Force under a $3.9 billion contract. That program, awarded in 2018, has missed its original delivery dates. The Air Force now expects the two next-generation Air Force One planes to reach full operational capability in 2027, after acceptance testing in 2026. Boeing CFO Brian West told analysts in October that the fixed-price program will likely lose roughly $400 million more before completion.
Monday's gift does not change that contract's economics. It puts a flyable, fully fitted 747-8i in the public eye at a time when the program's reputation has taken hits. Trump posted on his social platform that the plane is "beautiful." For a company whose stock is down 32% this year after strikes and quality-control issues – the company posted a $6 billion quarterly loss – the endorsement offers a rare moment of positive attention.
Boeing shares rose 0.8% on Monday. The move was small in percentage terms. It stood out against the broader market's flat session.
The Qatari jet includes a conference room and medical suite with secure communications gear, a layout similar to what the Air Force ordered. Boeing said in a statement that the airframe "confirms the 747-8i platform's reliability" and that the company remains committed to the military program.
The Air Force One program is one of several fixed-price contracts that have weighed on Boeing's defense unit. The division posted a $2 billion operating loss in the third quarter, the company reported. Analysts said the Qatari gift does not alter those losses. The contract structure remains unchanged, with cost overruns still on Boeing's books.
The next decision point belongs to the Secret Service and the Air Force. Trump said he would use the plane for overseas trips. The agencies will determine when it enters the presidential fleet. A decision could come after the inauguration. If accepted, the jet could arrive years before Boeing's military order is ready, giving the president a backup aircraft that is already built and paid for.
The aircraft is parked at Palm Beach International, awaiting that decision.
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